You've done thousands of push-ups, lifted hundreds of pounds and drank more Protein Shakes than online retailers can ship to your door! You schedule time for weight training, time for cardio and time for routine practice. Have you scheduled time to develop your personal beauty, as well? Beauty is a key component to judge's scoring for many fitness shows. Follow this simple schedule (see chart below) to help groom you for the beauty segment of your next fitness competition.

Skin

Create a beauty routine for your face and body. Like weight training, consistency is the key to clean, healthy skin! Your Face Routine should consist of two basic practices - Cleansing and Moisturizing. Cleanse daily (meaning EVERY DAY) once in the AM when you wake up and once in the PM before you go to bed. Wash with a cleanser formulated for your skin - for dry skin, try a creamy cleanser and for oily skin, try a foam cleanser. If your skin is prone to blemishes (acne, whiteheads, blackheads, etc.) try a cleanser containing salicylic acid. Moisturize daily after you cleanse - in the AM, try a lighter weight moisturizer and in the PM, try a nighttime formula for extra moisture. Once a week, schedule time to complete a facial mask or peel to draw imbedded impurities to the surface for clearer skin, faster!

Your Body

Routine should be complimentary to your skin routine - cleanse and moisturize daily. Once a week, schedule time for exfoliation. Exfoliation is the process of removing dry skin cells from the surface of your skin. The result is fresh glowing skin! A good body scrub with small granules and oil-free ingredients will work wonders to slough off dead skin and give your skin a healthy glow on stage!

Teeth a bright, beautiful smile radiates confidence and exhibits beauty to any judge! Brush teeth daily 2-3 times a day - when you wake up, after lunch and before you go to bed. Use toothpaste with fluoride and whitening ingredients and brush for at least 1-2 minutes. Try timing yourself when you brush to get an idea of how long to brush. Floss 1x everyday after brushing. Flossing removes plaque buildup and keeps gums healthy. To remove plaque and bacteria from hard to reach areas around your teeth, finish your brushing and flossing routine with a mouth rinse. 2-4 weeks out before a competition, schedule in teeth whitening every other evening using teeth whitening strips to whiten and brighten your smile for the judges.

Hair dull, dried-out hair stands out on stage and makes even the best fitness competitors look unhealthy and unattractive. On a daily basis, wash and condition hair with a formula that is made for your hair type. Limit the use of heat-styling tools. For example, blow dry hair on high heat only until hair is damp then switch to a cooler setting. Or substitute Velcro rollers for hot rollers and curling irons. On a weekly basis, use a deep conditioner, wrap hair in plastic wrap and leave on for a minimum of 15 minutes for extra moisture and shine. Schedule a haircut every 6-8 weeks to keep hair neat and shapely. By booking haircuts in advance, you are more likely to stay on schedule and maintain a consistent, healthy head of hair!

To recap, a well-planned beauty schedule carried out consistently while training is essential to preparing for any fitness show. While many of these beauty concepts may seem basic or second nature to many people, they are often the first areas to suffer when time is short or runs out. As a show approaches, it becomes even more difficult to find time to finalize preparations. By maintaining a consistent beauty schedule, you will find yourself with one less judging criteria to worry about when it comes time for the show!

Copyright (c) 2008 Al Short